Aluminum SD not for me, yet!
#76
#80
water in tail lights
ford defenders minimizing
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...il-lights.html
ford defenders minimizing
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...il-lights.html
#81
I cannot imagine a boxed frame would contribute to Death Wobble. In theory at least, the extra rigidity of the frame should have the opposite effect. DW is primarily a caster issue that allows the front wheels to start oscillating out of sync with each other because the ends of the axles are moving front to back at different rates. The older SD's with the solid axles and leaf springs don't have the problem because the ends of the axle can't move longitudinally. That movement is what takes the 'whump' out of the bumps, and so improves that aspect of the ride. Lateral movement in the front suspension is also a result of the coil spring design and can cause the front of the truck to seem like its moving side to side in blustery crosswinds (which is the reason I am still driving my '01, I couldn't get used to that feeling, although I did not experienced any control issues with it.
#83
That and the problem of water, salt and mud/dust accumulating inside the frame causing it to corrode from the inside out. Open frame rails allow debris to fall out or be rinsed away and dry out.
#84
Do we know what alloy Ford used for the boxed frames? I'd hope that it at least has some nickel and chromium in it to reduce corrosion. I'll check...
All Infogalactic says is "the frame is made from 95% high strength steel"
https://infogalactic.com/info/Ford_Super_Duty
.
All Infogalactic says is "the frame is made from 95% high strength steel"
https://infogalactic.com/info/Ford_Super_Duty
.
#85
#86
I worked in our bodyshop the last 10 years before retirement doing the mechanical. We were a BMW Dealer and did a lot of aluminum frame rail and body repairs on Beamers,MB'S Audi's etc You can't rework aluminum fenders, hoods,etc like you can steel so they generally need replacement. Once the car insurers see the escalating repairs due to the aluminum components in the new trucks I expect to see insurance rates to increase to compensate for that. While being much lighter helping with mpg aluminum body vehicles are very expensive to repair but are the future along with carbon fiber.
#87
I worked in our bodyshop the last 10 years before retirement doing the mechanical. We were a BMW Dealer and did a lot of aluminum frame rail and body repairs on Beamers,MB'S Audi's etc You can't rework aluminum fenders, hoods,etc like you can steel so they generally need replacement. Once the car insurers see the escalating repairs due to the aluminum components in the new trucks I expect to see insurance rates to increase to compensate for that. While being much lighter helping with mpg aluminum body vehicles are very expensive to repair but are the future along with carbon fiber.
You would be hard pressed to find a body shop around here where any of them even know how to work on body panels. I know 3 guys that run body shops and they all say that it is faster and cheaper to just swap parts out instead of fixing them and all they hire anymore are parts swappers instead of of people with actual body work skills.
#88
I still don’t understand the concern over aluminum trucks and the idea that it’s a new concept. Semis have been aluminum cabs with steel frames for decades with no issues. I own 3 that are 15 years old with close to 2 million miles on them and have been driven in every condition imaginable and are in better shape than my steel f250 with less than 70k miles. Jets are aluminum and withstand far greater forces and temperature changes than any vehicle on the road. After watching every Ford I own rust to pieces no matter what I do to take care of it I am thrilled to death that they are doing something to help that.
#89